Steyning is a pretty and historic market town, that seems to breed creativity and inspire local producers and makers. With the South Downs hovering charismatically in the background, September is the perfect time for their Steyning Food and Drink Festival which this year starts on 2nd September and runs to 7th October 2023. It’s an amazing opportunity to eat out, learn about local producers, take in some great walks and history and enjoy great tastings of food and wine.
The festival, which also includes local villages like Ashurst, Bramber, Edburton, Small Dole, Upper Beeding and Wiston, is a packed and diverse combination of events, experiences, and discounts throughout the month. Local businesses involved include shops, eateries, attractions, accommodation, vineyards and breweries. The festival charity this year is the St Barnabas House Hospice and so the festival is also peppered with fun fundraising activities.
A celebration of local artisans and producers
The festival programme is an eye-opener and showcases the enormous wealth of amazing local food, drink, and talent in the Steyning area and you really need the programme to hand as you plan how best to take advantage of all that is on offer. There are also lots of great offers and deals to be had with discounts and free gifts, etc. The festival month is top and tailed with the usual Farmers Market (held on the 2nd September and 7th October) where you can expect lots of fabulous local produce and producers. This year, just some of the producers and events include a country fair at Danefold Farm, bread-making workshops at The Artisan Bakehouse, wine tasting at Wiston and at Tottington Manor and a festival at Cobblestone Walk.
From tasting and tours to recipes and seed swaps
There are also farm walks followed by cream teas, a supper club event, a tour of a salmon smokery, chocolate-making masterclasses, brewery tours, and community apple juicing. Local businesses such as Cocoa Loco and Higgidy will be sharing recipes, and various eateries will be creating special charity dishes to support the festival’s fundraising efforts. And let’s not forget to celebrate Beer Festival Week at The Star or try product tasting at The Sussex Grocer.
There will be demonstrations, cocktails, quizzes, tastings and ploughing matches. The lineup of those involved is, in short, quite astonishing.
Of course, all good events have their unsung heroes, and the Steyning Food and Drink Festival is supported by a number of local sponsors including Rushfields Plant Centre, The Sussex Grocer, Cocoa Loco, Higgidy Pies, Steyning & District Business Chamber, Steyning & District Community Partnership, Steyning Parish Council and Horsham District Council.
In order to take up any of the festival offers you will need to show to the businesses involved, either the Festival Guide or the Festival Website Pass (downloadable from the website). You’ll find lots more information on their festival website www.steyningdistrictfooddrinkfestival.co.uk.
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